The fight continues. Vancouver’s ICBC department says Pirate Hats and Colanders are not acceptable religious headwear. Gary Smith of the Church of FSM of British Columbia has been battling the department for some time. I’m sure all of us are looking forward to the time when this department respects religious freedom.

“Ultimately, religion is a choice,” said Smith, the Canadian representative with the International Pastafarians’ Captains Conclave. “But not so much for members of a certain sect.”

ICBC doesn’t see it that way.

“We have advised Mr. Smith on numerous occasions that we do not recognize him as a member of a religious group that requires accommodation in the context of a service customarily available to the public under the British Columbia Human Rights Code,” ICBC said in a Jan. 24 statement to Glacier Media.

VancouverIsAwesome

Please check out Jeremy Hainsworth’s excellent article about the dispute here at VancouverIsAwesome.

Happy Holidays everyone. I wanted to remind people the Holiday e-Card machine is up. Also if you are stuck on gift ideas, please consider nominating someone to the Ministry.

Holiday e-Card Machine

Feel free to use the Holiday e-Card machine to send festive greetings to your friends and family.

Gift an Ordination

You are welcome to nominate someone to the Ministry, if you feel they are ready for the immense responsibility. Order here

Here’s a nice article about Gary Smith and his efforts to wear a pirate hat in his ID photo. Until now they have denied him, issuing him temporary licenses without the photo. I find it inspiring that he keeps up the fight.

I admire the people who wish to wear religious headwear – colander or pirate hat – in their ID photos, while putting up with the questions, smirks, or full-on discrimination of workers. I hear about it often, and most people give up after being denied. It takes a special type of person to continue to fight for their rights. I have no doubt that Gary will be successful.

The article goes into detail about some of his other Pastafarian activites and outreach, it is truly impressive. Let’s find a way to help the effort.

Pease check out the Richmond News article about Gary.

Here’s a nice article about the growth of the Church of the FSM in Australia. An interesting dynamic there is the every-five-year census that includes religious preference. The results of the census influence funding and social programs. Australia does not currently recognize the Church of the FSM as an “official” religion so Pastafarians are at a disadvantage. Still, it sounds like the situation is improving.

When Census night 2021 rolled around, Pirate Priestess Angela Carter and her husband Captain Colin “Cupcakes” Carter followed an instruction from their leader and selected the “no religion” option where the nationwide survey asked respondents about their religious affiliations.

Yet the Carters are actually among a growing number of Australians who consider themselves to be Pastafarians, or members of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

They are also ministers and owners of the only recognised church of their faith in the country, but they checked the “no religion” box because they didn’t want to be counted as Christians in the census.

abc.net.au

Here is the article.